At Rainy Day Reviews you will find
my personal reviews on books as well as reading challenges, weekly memes I participate in, and all other bookish topics.
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Sunday, September 30, 2012

"All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn." - Ernest Hemingway

Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Intended at first as a simple story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley-a sequel to Tom Sawyer-the
book grew and matured under Twain's hand into a work of immeasurable
richness and complexity. More than a century after its publication, the
critical debate over the symbolic significance of Huck's and Jim's
voyage is still fresh, and it remains a major work that can be enjoyed
at many levels: as an incomparable adventure story and as a classic of
American humor.

John Seelye's introduction discusses the context from which the novel emerged.

I was a bit surprised when I saw this book on the banned book list; especially since I read this one at least once as a kid and thoroughly enjoyed it. But again, quite a few books are on the list that I have and enjoyed. And some that have been on my TBR.
Even though I read this as a child I obviously wanted to refresh my memory for my review for banned book week:)
This book, I believe is one of the greatest of American Literature. Though there is some confusion surrounding this story by Mark Twain; like the character Jim, because I think he was one of the first black men to have a multi dimensional character in a book; especially at that time; I could be wrong...
Jim was an important character in the book, but he was secondary. Obviously Huck is the star of the book; hence the title of this great book.
Also, I do remember this book, especially in the beginning was challenging to read because of the folksy language and bad grammar. But once I got past that I did well. Like reading Pride & Prejudice or Pilgrims Progress- after you get more accustomed to the vernacular, it is much easier to read, but in the beginning it takes you a few minutes because you are needing to switch your brain to old English.
But all these things along with the creative spelling give Huck his personality and tell you where he is from. Giving him a voice.
I love that this story was intended and meant to be about a young boy and his adventures in Mississippi Valley ( Sequel to Tom Sawyer) but the book grew with maturity as Mark Twain added layers, depth, complexity and richness to the story.

I recommend this book to all and I look forward to re-reading this book again someday.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Lindy S.Hudis is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where she studied drama. She
is a former actress, having appeared on such television shows as “Sunset Beach” and “Married with Children”. Her romantic
murder mystery, Weekends,
is currently available from Lachesis Press. She is also a filmmaker, her
independent short film “The Lesson”, which she wrote, produced and directed,
screened at the Seattle Underground Film Festival. She is co-owner of an
independent production company called Impact Motion Pictures. She and her
husband Steve, a Hollywood stuntman, have just completed the screenplay
adaptation of Charmaine Hammond’s best selling book, “On Toby’s Terms.”
She lives in California with her family.

Fraudulent car accidents is a
multi-million dollar racket, involving unscrupulous medical providers, personal
injury attorneys, and the cooperating passengers involved in the accidents—and
who also receive a portion of the illegal proceeds. Such is the fate of newly
engaged, Nathan and Shari, whose joy is tempered by the dark cloud of
mounting debt.

A chance encounter with a stranger
in whom Shari confides her troubles proves fortuitous: he
tells her of a get-rich-quick scheme that will put her and her fiancé on easy
street. Seduced by the chance to move from hard times to good times in no time,
Shari takes the carrot offered her, and finds herself acting as a “stuffed
passenger”—the “victim” in a staged auto accident. The act goes according to
plan and Shari gets her payday, but getting out and
breaking free of the insurance fraud underworld will take nothing short of a
miracle.
A modern day cautionary tale,
Crashers is a true-to-life novel that uncovers how the innocent get lured into
the scheme of “cappers” and “hammers.”

Sunday, September 23, 2012

ABOUT ANGIE OF THE GARDEN

Angie of the Garden is a story about a psychiatrist named
Hollis Simms. He is an affable individual who is dedicated to his
patients, and his family. Hollis is married to a provocative and wealthy
woman named Olivia: their irrepressible teenage daughter is named
Annabelle. She used her considerable resources to purchase the estate
called Fairhaven for them to live in.
As a boy Hollis found a diary written by a woman named Angie Barton
buried in a garden. The journal told of the hardships and deprivations
suffered by the woman from Boston as she traveled on the Oregon Trail.
She became his first love. One evening as Doctor Simms walked past a
garden on the estate he encountered the spirit of Angie Barton. Hollis
learns that she worked at Fairhaven as a house servant after returning
from the west. He cannot fathom how this adventurous woman could have
come to such a station in life. Hollis decides that Angie must have
experienced some kind of trauma. During her subsequent appearances he
entices her into recounting the long trek westward in order to discover
the cause of her malaise.
Hollis’ obsession with the woman from the past also begins to strain
his relationships with those closest to him. Hollis is determined to
find the reason for Angie’s moribund spirit. In the end he does, and
Angie finds peace. Then a chance encounter reveals something else about
the woman in the garden.

Friday, September 7, 2012

What is your destiny?
This question haunts 20-year-old Jamie Collins. A junior at Santa Clara
University in 1986, Jamie has lots of friends, a professor whom he
regards as a mentor, and a promising future as a writer. Then the dreams
begin - nightmares leading him to a destiny beyond belief. These
visions transport him to a time and place fifty-five years before he was
born: Titanic's maiden voyage in 1912 With less than a week to go
before the 75th anniversary of its sinking, Jamie learns that his fate
is inexplicably linked to that of the famous vessel. Somehow, the two
timelines are overlapping, and when Titanic dies, Jamie will die along
with her. Those dreams reveal something evil stalking the ill-fated
ship, something that expedites the collision which sinks the great
liner. Jamie comes to realize that because of his connection, he may be
able to prevent the world's greatest maritime disaster, and save his own
life in the process. But how? How can he stop a ship from sinking in
1912 when he hadn't even been born yet? And even if he can stop it -
should he? What will be the effect on history if he succeeds? Jamie's
quest to fulfill his destiny ties friends and family together in ways he
could never have imagined. A Matter of Time is an emotionally charged
voyage into the value of friendship, the power of love, the impact of
evil, and the vagaries of Fate.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ever since I learned about the Titanic at a young age, I have been fascinated with all things Titanic, so again, when the opportunity came, I grabbed it.

This was a really interesting story; set in modern times where a college kid keeps having dreams about the Titanic and people on it but doesn't realize it. The story also had a vampire feel to it. I have never been big on vampires. Not even the Twilight series, I haven't read the books but Hubby has and is still insisting that I read them. I have watched the movies with him but..well anyway.

Even though there was a vampire feel to this story I still fully enjoyed it.

Part of what made this book fun and different then the other Titanic books out there was it's time traveling. That was unexpected and neat. A twist I didn't see coming. The author had me reading later then I normally do. But I would wake up wanting to finish reading the book to see what was going to happen next.

The story was a bit...out there..for lack of better words but, the author made it work.

What I didn't care for about the book was the editing. The scenes changed without notice so that made it confusing. Also you never get told who's point of view you are reading from so I had to keep looking back through the pages and what not to keep from getting too confused.

Beth
has a gift of healing-which is why she wants to become a vet and help
her family run their fifth-generation cattle ranch. Her father's dream
of helping men in trouble and giving them a second chance is her dream
too. But it only takes one foolish decision for Beth to destroy it all.

Beth
scrambles to redeem her mistake, pleading with God for help, even as a
mystery complicates her life. But the repercussions grow more
unbearable-a lawsuit, a death, a divided family, and the looming loss of
everything she cares about. Beth's only hope is to find the grandfather
she never knew and beg for his help. Confused, grieving, but determined
to make amends, she embarks on a horseback journey across the
mountains, guided by a wild, unpredictable wolf who may or may not be
real.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I heard about Healy's other book, The Bakers Wife and really wanted to read it, I haven't had the opportunity as of yet but when I saw this book by her I had to take it. I enjoyed this book because it is realistic with a touch of supernatural. From what I have heard about Healy's work, she can't write a bad book or bad ending. And this book proved it for me. There were so many twists and turns I didn't know where she was going to take me. This book was well developed and written. I really liked Beth, her personality was very likable and she seemed so strong. Things seem to get so hard for her but she keeps on going, bargaining with God and dealing with death, things couldn't seem worse. This is another book I do recommend, I plan on keeping this book on my TBR-Again shelf, lol.After reading this I really want to read The Bakers Wife and Never Let You Go.

Now, Ana
and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world
of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty
Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges
that neither of them would anticipate. Ana must somehow learn to share
Christian’s opulent lifestyle without sacrificing her own identity. And
Christian must overcome his compulsion to control as he wrestles with
the demons of a tormented past.

Just when it seems that their
strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and
fate conspire to make Ana’s deepest fears turn to reality.

I was so glad that I actually had the third book already with my (thanks to my awesome sister in law, Crystal:) So when I finished the second book I raced my thoughts out on my blog because I wanted to write it while my thoughts and feelings on the book were fresh and not forgotten.

Then I was able to sit and read the third:))

Now the second book ended with Christian proposing in the sweetest of manners and Hyde (Ana's old boss watching them with not so sweet intentions...

The third book opens with Christian having a nightmare, this gives you more insight to who he is, which is nice since the author has kept him as a very private man.

Ana wakes him and they are already married and on their honeymoon. It keeps going back and forth between the present and Ana remembering their wedding day.

As the story unfolds you find out that Ana has been permanently promoted as Editor of Grey Publishing, formally SIP. Then one day she gets a call, on the caller ID it says Christians sister, Mia. She answers it and it's Hyde- he has Mia. He wants money- and a lot of it and if Ana doesn't have it by a certain time Hyde will kill her. But he will also kill Mia right away if Ana tells Anyone, and he will know. \

Ana hurriedly goes to the bank to withdraw the money- the bank calls Christian and he demands to speak with Ana to see why this is going on. She lied to him by telling him she is leaving him, she does this so he stays safe and away from the danger.

She ends up in the hospital for days, Christian finds out the truth, about everything.

I fear I have already said way to much, so I will draw the line hear, lol. This third book, was so good. The second book, Fifty Shades Darker and this one were my favorite in the series.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Where were you on 9/11?
That question has become part of the fabric of our lives as Americans.
On that bright, sunny day, none of us had any idea what was in store and
how it would change our lives. Depending on what part of the country
you lived in, you may not have known anything was going on until several
hours after the first plane struck. You may not have heard the news
until you got to work, turned on your car radio,
or received a call from a loved one asking if you had seen or heard the
news. Ashes Ashes the Twins Fall Down is a look at the events of 9/11
from personal and informational perspectives. Author, Pauline Hawkins,
who lived in Texas at the time of the attacks, shares
her experience of 9/11, and its repercussions for her family, her job,
and how she viewed the world. Pauline's story of coping with the news, re-framing how she thought about America and the world, and making a
conscious decision to become better-informed will resonate with anyone
who lived through 9/11. In addition to her personal testimony, Pauline
provides a thought-provoking context for the events of 9/11, including
political background, social commentary, and reflections on the
contributions of everyday heroes. You'll come away from this book both
enlightened and comforted by Pauline's honesty and common sense, as well
as her heartfelt appreciation of those who sacrificed for our country,
and those who continue to work toward healing and rebuilding

Like many others, on that terrible, sad and frightening day I recall where I was and what I was doing. I was puzzled by all this talk and commotion - mainly because I didn't watch the news or listen to the radio in the mornings while getting ready (mainly because I know me, I would get too distracted and I really do not like be late. At all.) So both of those are distractions for me. Twice in my life now, not watching the news in the morning I have missed out on two sad and major events. One more personal then the other. ANYWAYSo for me, reading her book was getting another perspective, or hearing someone else' account about that day. It is great that she found an outlet her self to talk about it; but - now, not to sound hard or mean or anything because that is not my intention at all - and I am sorry if what I am about to say comes off rude..but - I didn't see the point of her writing a book about it. If that were the case, can you imagine the amount of books that would be out there of people recounting how there day(s) went on that day?What I did take from her book though was this; I didn't stop to think about those who got delayed in trying to return to the US the weeks following the attacks because the FAA closed all airports and all air traffic. It was interesting reading about her research on Bin Laden and the Patriot Act. Most I new but she did tell me some details I didn't and it was nice getting a fresh summary of all the information. All in all, if you would like to read someone else' story of that day(s) you will enjoy this book. I'm not saying I didn't but it wasn't exactly my cup of coffee.About the Author:

Pauline L. Hawkins was born in Munson
Army Hospital
at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
on Easter Sunday. Pauline has been in the heath insurance industry for almost thirty years, working her way up from the
mailroom to corporate management and claims payment. In 2002, Pauline received
her Instructional Design certification, which allows her to create
instructor-led and learner-paced training curricula, along with computer-based
learning activities and website creation. Pauline has enjoyed writing since she
was in high school, and has decided to start sharing her stories. Ashes Ashes the Twins
Fall Down is her debut book.

About the Book:
Where were you on 9/11? That question has become part of the fabric of our
lives as Americans. On that bright, sunny day, none of us had any idea what was
in store and how it would change our lives. Depending on what part of the
country you lived in, you may not have known anything was going on until
several hours after the first plane struck. You may not have heard the news
until you got to work, turned on your car radio, or received a call from a loved
one asking if you had seen or heard the news. Ashes Ashes the Twins Fall Down
is a look at the events of 9/11 from personal and informational perspectives.
Author, Pauline Hawkins, who lived in Texas
at the time of the attacks, shares her experience of 9/11, and its
repercussions for her family, her job, and how she viewed the world. Pauline’s
story of coping with the news, reframing how she thought about America
and the world, and making a conscious decision to become better-informed will
resonate with anyone who lived through 9/11. In addition to her personal
testimony, Pauline provides a thought-provoking context for the events of 9/11,
including political background, social commentary, and reflections on the
contributions of everyday heroes. You’ll come away from this book both
enlightened and comforted by Pauline’s honesty and common sense, as well as her
heartfelt appreciation of those who sacrificed for our country, and those who
continue to work toward healing and rebuilding.

As for the giveaway, I couldn't get the Rafflecopter HTML or any HTML to work on my blog, sometimes I get it to work and sometimes...
So please leave a comment here then go here to enter the giveaway! Good luck all!